How to select the best credit card in Australia

Before applying for a credit card you there are a few things you must know especially if you have never owned one before. First thing to check would be to see if you are able to qualify because you don't want to fill in a lengthly application form only to be rejected for something that you could have known before applying such as do you meet the income requirements, have you been employed long enough (usually 3 months), you are 18 years of age, these are just the basics and most people will be approved should they meet these requirements. Then the next step is to decide which credit card you should go with? That is why you must know how to compare credit cards otherwise you could end up paying a lot of money to the bank for fees and other penalties if you do not know what you are doing. Following will be the things you should check when doing your credit card comparisons:

Check the interest rate.

It might sound obvious but some people just sign up to the first deal they think looks good. Be aware of low interest introductory periods to lure you in, after a few months the interest rate could almost double, so read the fine print. Look for a credit card with a low ongoing interest rate that won't change, credit providers do change their interest rates sometimes but usually all providers do it at the same time due to external economic factors.

Check the fees.

Look for credit cards that don't charge an annual fee, there are not many around however if you can get one and pay your closing balance (next section) every month then you could potentially be paying zero fees all the time. There could be heavy penalties for late payments and if you have a high interest rate but do not pay back anything for the month you spent then you could also be paying a lot in interest. Another to do before applying is to check the PDS (product disclosure statement) where it lists all the possible fees and penalties and the amounts charged. If you are the forgetful type then make sure you don't choose a credit card that has a hefty penalty for late monthly payments.

Pay your closing balance every month.

Be sure to pay your closing balance on the due date each month because when you do these you cannot be charged any interest so you will be using the card with no fees at all. The closing balance is the amount you have spent for the previous month it is not the total you have spent on your card, so you do not have to pay back the total just the closing balance which is great. The amount you need to pay for your closing balance can be found on your credit card statement or in your online banking if you use it so make sure you pay it on the date it's due.

With these tips hopefully you are now more financially aware of how you can keep your hard earned money in your own pocket instead of the banks.